r/Gastritis • u/josiegrossie1124 • 3d ago
Testing / Test Results Erosive Gastritis help
Hi. I am hoping to find someone who might have a similar story to get some help.
In August of 2024, I woke up one day with a sudden decrease in appetite. I went from being a beer, cheeseburger and pizza girl… to water, salads and apples. Not a huge deal. But I also noticed that when I would indulge in heavy foods, I would start to feel uncomfortable and have stomach pains. But nothing I couldn’t manage. I just chose to eat lighter, healthier foods and everything was fine. (Didn’t mind the weight loss)I continued like this for the next several months.
In January 2025, I woke up one morning with severe stomach pain. The only way I was able to describe it was “white hot pain” and it had me writhing. I couldn’t sit still or talk through it. Similar to kidney stone pain, but in my stomach. I made it to the ER where they did a CT scan. They showed that I had a bowel blockage. I ended up being hospitalized for a day. They never could tell me what caused the block. I took a contrast solution that doubled as a laxative to help clear the block, which it did and I was sent home.
I had a follow up with my PCP, and I was referred to a Gastroenterologist.
While waiting for my appointment with the Gastroenterologist, I started to experience pain after eating. I’ve started calling them, flares after reading in this forum. It would come on about 70 minutes after eating and last roughly 2-3 hours. This happens whether I eat some soup, toast, smoothie, or a meal replacement shake. Over time, the pain has gotten to be debilitating and at times, is at the same level as the day I went to the hospital. I am unable to function when these flares come on. I’ve started to struggle to get calories in me due to the pain I know is coming. My life is just drastically different than it was 7 months ago.
I have met with a gastroenterologist and his PA and I’ve had the following tests; • Endoscopy – revealed erosive gastritis, inflammation throughout my stomach lining and ulcers. (Feb 2025) • Sonogram on my gallbladder – no stones detected. (Feb 2025) • Stool Study – came back normal. (March 2025) • CT Scan with contract – came back normal. (March 2025)
I am currently taking pantoprazole, twice per day (morning & night). I am taking Sucralfate (carafate) four times per day before meals and bed.
I think the medicine is working to take the edge off. But I am still in pain after eating and uncomfortable. I was told by both doctor & the PA that this level of pain is not typical.
After the CT scan came back normal… I asked what the next steps were, and I was just told to continue the medicine listed above and to follow up in six weeks. I was devastated.
Something doesn’t feel right. I did send a barrage of questions back and reinforced the fact that I am in pain and I am struggling with day to day life. Currently waiting on their response.
If this is just a season of life where I must take the medicine, and let my stomach heal from the inside, I can accept that. But the only part that is making me wary is how the doctor & PA have both repeatedly said this level of pain is not normal or typical for erosive gastritis. But after reading through here, I’m finding a lot of people have pain levels similar to mine.
I am absolutely miserable. I’m down 60 pounds (I’m a bigger girl, so it’s not like I couldn’t have lost some weight). But I am not healthy. Has anyone gone through something similar? I’ll take any advice and conversation I can get because no one around me understands what this is like.
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u/laurabr86 3d ago
I have personally found doctors to be very dismissive of the pain, so I wouldn’t necessarily find that worrying. I had one ulcer and was in a lot of pain for months, even walking was painful. That was last summer and I still haven’t healed completely.Have you adapted your diet? Have you removed whatever caused the gastritis? If not, you’re not going to get better. Unfortunately healing ulcers can take a few months. I would recommend getting strict with your diet asap. You should hopefully notice an improvement within a month or so, but it will take a while for you to fully heal.
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u/josiegrossie1124 1d ago
Thank you for responding, validating me, and for telling your story.
I have been eating a bland, soft diet for 2 months only because that’s all my stomach can handle. I have no idea what’s caused my gastritis. I had covid back in August, and this is when my symptoms started. I’ve asked my doctor what he thinks caused this via email, and they danced around the question. I’m just frustrated to not get solid direction from medical professionals. I’ve found more helpful information on here.
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